Watson to skipper youngest Sydney-Hobart crew

Young Australian of the Year Jessica Watston is set to tackle the Sydney to Hobart race on Boxing day, as skipper of a record-breaking crew of young people.

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Young Australian of the Year Jessica Watston is set to tackle the Sydney to Hobart race on Boxing day.

As a 16-year old she sailed solo and unassisted around the globe, but this time she'll be skippering the youngest ever crew to take-on the gruelling journey.

"The solo non-stop around the world was all about being slow and steady, having the right preparation and having the right boat which is going to look after me no matter what", she says.

She'll be in charge of a thirty-eight footer - sailing across 628 nautical miles of open ocean.

With an average age of nineteen, she'll be skippering the youngest ever crew to attempt the revered race; having turned 18 Watson is eligible to sail, leading six men and four women accross Bass Straight.

"It is a sprint and it's going to be a challenge working with people and leading a team of people", Watson said.

Suheil Damouny reports.


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By Suheil Damouny


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